Overview
- Employment rose by only about 10,000 in Q2 2025 year-on-year, marking the weakest gain since the summer 2022 post-pandemic boom.
- Seasonally adjusted figures show headcount growth of barely 7,000 between Q1 and Q2, signalling a near-standstill in hiring.
- Total hours worked fell 0.5 percent to roughly 14.4 billion during April–June, and average hours per employee dropped to 315.4.
- Manufacturing and construction continued to shed jobs (minus 141,000 and minus 21,000 respectively), while the services sector added 178,000 positions.
- Persistent regional disparities, rising unemployment and a drop in vacancies point to broader structural challenges for a swift labour-market recovery.